Roped Access

Industrial rope access is a well established means of safe access in situations where other means are either not possible or prohibitively expensive.

Rope access has an unrivalled safety record when compared with other forms of access. STATS employs only IRATA* trained personnel to ensure that the highest safety levels are maintained.

STATS rope access personnel are not only proficient in rope access techniques and working at heights but, importantly, have qualifications and specific skills in construction materials, identification and investigation of structural problems and defects and in insitu testing and sampling. The service benefits from the full backing of all of STATS technical resources and expertise, including the UKAS accredited in-house laboratory.

When to use rope access

  • Structures in which other forms of access are impossible or very expensive.
  • Sensitive historical buildings where other forms of access may cause damage.
  • City centre locations when conventional access might require planning consent.
  • Assessment of damage or defects.
  • Cladding/façade health checks.
  • Building inspection prior to property sale.


Some types of investigation

  • Dye testing cladding to assess cracking, distinguishing natural geological features from damage.
  • Insitu testing and sampling of materials for subsequent testing at STATS head office laboratory facilities.
  • Inspection of fixing condition to stonework and other types of façade.
  • Assessment of weathering decay of natural stone, slate and historic materials.
  • Highway and railway bridge structures investigation and testing.
  • Instrumentation and monitoring
  • Checking of repairs and remedial work.
  • Mastic joint/seal inspection for all types of façade and glazing.
  • Structural steelwork, including protective treament systems.

* The Industrial Rope Access Trade Association (IRATA) was formed to promote safe rope access with independent checking of all technicians and equipment.